Steam-generator



(No Model.) 7 2 Bheets-She et 1.

T. L. STURTEVAN-T.

STEAM GENERATOR.

Patented June 17, 18 90.

(N0 M00191.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

T. L. STURTEVANT. STEAM GENERATOR.

No. 430,445. Paterited June 17, 1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS L. STURTEVANT, OF FRAMINGHAM, MASSACHUSETTS.

STEAM-GENERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 430,445, dated June 17, 1890.

Application'filed February 28, 1890. Serial No. 342,074. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS L. STURTEVANT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Framingham, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam-Gen erators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, suchas will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to steam-boilers, more particularly those for marine purposes, and as such designed especially for small pleasureboats or steam-launches, since it is compact, of light weight, and combines large steamcapacity with great strength and quick'generating powers. Hence steam can be started in a very short time and the boat is in readiness for use, while no change in water-level can result from sudden pitching or rolling of the boat.

My improvements consist, primarily, in arranging the several component elements in such manner as to obtain greater strength with less weight than heretofore and the most efficient circulation, while the vertical or nearly vertical position of the steam-generating tubes directly over the water supply tubes allows all sediment from the evaporating water to fall and be deposited in the latter, when it is easily blown off through suitable cocks provided for the purpose.

I consider my present invention as an improvement upon that shown and described in application Serial No. 329,829, filed November 9, 1889, by substituting for the waterreservoir, which would require much staying to give it strength, tubes to contain the water-supply.

This generator, in brief, consists of one or more rows of horizontal or inclined water or base tubes arranged in parallelism, or nearly so. Each of said tubes is connected with a common water-reservoir or leg, and each water-tube is supplied with a series of steamgenerating pipes fitted with interiorly-circw lating pipes, steam from said generating pipes discharging at their upper ends into a common steam pipe and the latter into a steam separator or receiver, the lower part of which contains a considerable supply of water from which all the lower parts of the boiler may be supplied with water should the pump fail to act for a few minutes. This reservoir of water considerably steadies the working of the boiler.

The drawings herewith annexed represent, in Fig. 1, an end elevation of a steam-generator embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a modified arrangement in the steam-generating pipes. Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the general circulation of the products of combustion when a petroleum or gas burner is used to fire the boiler from the end, as indioated by'the arrows. Fig. 4 shows the application of the flame or fire when inclosed about by the tubes, the latter converging toward the top. Figs. 5 and 6 show different methods of arranging the circulating-pipes.

One object in my invention, as before premised, is to secure large heating-surface with small weight and great strength in boiler. Transversely of and to one side of said water-leg and connected in this instance therewith by small pipes at are placed a series of generator consists in providing each longitudinal tube with a series of rising or upright pipes 7. These are expressly to generate steam and hence are exposed to the direct infiuence of the heating agency. Their vertical or slightly-inclined position insures a very rapid circulation of their contained water. Many forms of applying this heating agency may be adopted. Thus the the can be placed in a chamber at the side or end, as in Fig. 3, or if liquid fuel is used burners can be arranged as indicated at S 8 in Fig. 2, with burners between each set of tubes. In connection with said upright pipes 7, I have introduced interiorlypositioned circulating pipes 14. The upper ends thereof are to be below the water-level. In this way rapid water circulation is secured, and when steam is generated the said vapor can readily escape, while the water-level is maintained. The steam so generated and arising therein is allowed to escape at the upper ends through outlet-pipes 9. The latter together form a system by aid of which steam from one and all is conveyed to a steam-receiving pipe 10, the latter discharging into a separator 12. This separator or steam-receiver is in this instance an upright cylinder, which interconnects at the bottom with the water-leg 2 by a pipe 13. After the steam has been freed from water in the separator it passes from the latter to the main steam-supply 16, from which it is used. The water separated from the steam in the separatorreturns to its tubes by means of the said pipe 13, connecting its bottom with the water-leg 2. In Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown two ways in the arrangement of the circulating-pipes 14. In the former the generating-tube 7 enters the water-tube 5, and its pipe 14 terminates within the latter. On the other hand, in 6 the tubes 7 and 5 are united by the small pipe 15, and the circulating-pipe 14 is contained entirely within the generating-tube 7.

To secure better and more efficient results from the action of the fire, I have changed the position of the steam-generating pipes, as shown in Fig. 2that is, I introduce the burners (indicated at 8 8) between the tubes, which converge toward the top, being separated at the base for this purpose. Thus the heat supplied at the tube-bottom strikes said tubes obliquely and the best results are secured. I do not desire to be limited to the precise arrangement, nor to the construction of the steam-generating pipes 7, since they can be varied to suit different conditions.

The general circulation of the generator when complete is as follows: Feed-water is supplied through pipe 3 to water-leg 2 into tubes 5, the steam-generating pipes 7, and circulating-pipes 14 until a proper water-level is attained, as shown. WVhen heat is applied, the steam generated in said pipes 7 and 14 passes upward, while rapid circulation of the water occurs to permitv such escape, thence the steam passes through the outlet-pipes 9 and enters the steam-receiving pipe 10, common to all the said pipes 7, and is finally collected in the separator. From the latter it is supplied to the engine or other source by the main steam-pipe 16, while the water remaining in the separator is returned to the tubes by the pipe 13.

I claim 1. A steam-generator composed of a group of water-tubes 5, either horizontal or inclined,

pipe 10,.substantially as shown and speci- 2. In a steam-generator, the combination, with a water-leg 2, a series of water-tubes 5 common therewith, a group of steam-generating pipes 7 from each water-tube, and circulating-pipes interiorly of the generating-pipes, of a steam-receiving pipe 10, interconnected with the pipes 7 by outlets in or near the tops of the latter, and a steam-separator, all operating substantially as stated.

3. A steam-generator composed of a series of water-tubes 5, a water-leg 2 common thereto, a group of steam-generatingpipes 7 secured in said water-tubes, circulating-pipes within said pipes 7, the several groups being radially disposed with respect to each other, outlets 9 from said steam-generating pipes and a receiving steam-pipe 10, and a separator, substantially as and for purposes described.

4. In a steam-generator, the combination, with a water-leg 2 and a series of parallel or nearly parallel water-tubes 5 common therewith, of a group of steam-generating pipes 7 rising from said water-tubes, the outlet steampipes 9 at the top, and the water-feed pipes 15, the latter uniting said steam-generating pipes with the water-tubes, substantially as stated.

5. A steam-generator composed of a series of water-tubes 5 below and a system of steamconveying pipes 9 10 above, an interconnecting group of steam-generating pipes 7, open at the top to the steam-conveying pipes and below to the water-tubes, and a series of cir culating-pipes 1A interiorly of the steam-generating pipes to maintain a water-level, substantially as specified.

6. A steam-generator composed of a series of water-tubes 5, a group of steam-generating pipes 7 therefrom, the steam-conveying pipes 9, the water-leg 2, and the interiorly-disposed circulating-pipes 14:, all operating as herein set forth and stated.

7. A steam-generator composed of a series of steam-generating pipes connected at the top with a system of steam-conveying pipes, at the bottom with a series of water-supply tubes, and circulating-pipes interiorly of the steam generating pipes and terminating within the bore of the water-tubes, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS L. STURTEVANT.

WVitnesses:

M. HEATON, W. H. BLACKNALL. 

